Car thief nabbed in Lagos

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command recently nabbed one Benjamin Michael, 27, for attempting to remove a Mercedes Benz A-Class with registration number UB202AAA from the park of a popular night club (name withheld) in Ikeja, Lagos.

The suspect who hails from Ughelli in Delta State, was arrested after policemen prevented the angry mob from carrying out jungle justice on him when they sighted him stealing the car.

Michael, who had sustained various degrees of injuries on his head before the arrival of RRS operatives, was taken to the hospital for medical attention by the police.

Upon his arrival at the RRS’ headquarters, he confessed that his plan was to steal the vehicle and take it out of Lagos to a neighbouring country to sell.

“I went out in search of any good to steal that night,” the suspected allegedly confessed. “When I arrived the club, I was looking for a car which door may be unlocked and I discovered that the car in question was not locked, which gave me easy entry into it. I entered the car quietly with the aim of removing it from where it was parked and take it out for sale,” he disclosed.

The suspected criminal said that he was unaware that some people were watching him all the while.

“ As I entered the car, I saw a group of men coming towards me. I still pretended as if the car was mine. When they got to my side, they asked me if the car was mine. Unknowingly to me, the owner of the car was with them.

“I confidently told them the car belonged to me. They dragged me out of the vehicle and started beating me. If not for the timely intervention of the RRS officers, they would have killed me that night.”

It was gathered that the policemen who were on their routine patrol along the area rescued the suspect when he was about to be set ablaze by the enraged youths.

While confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of Lagos State Police Command, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, said that efforts were in progress to arrest his colleagues.

“The suspect would be charged to court upon completion of our investigation. My advice to every vehicle owner is to ensure that your vehicles are parked in a secured place and properly locked to prevent car thieves from taking undue advantage of such negligence,” she said.